Machine



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GILBERT L. BAILEY, OF PORTLAND, MAINE.

MACHINE .FOR PUNCI-IING HOLES IN LEATHER.

Specicaton of Letters Patent No. 25,083, dated August 16, 1859.

T o all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, GILBERT L. BAILEY, of Portland, in the county of Cumberland, in the State of Maine, have invented a new and useful Improvement on a Machine for Punching Holes in Leather and other Similar Substances; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of the whole machine; Fig. 2, is a sectional view, showing t-he treadle, with its connecting bracket, and Fig. 3, is a birdis eye view of lthe front part of the bed-piece, showing the connection with it, and relation to the cutter, or punch, of the copper cutter-bed.

The same letters refer to like parts.

The nature of my invention consists in providing a hollow tube or cutter, and so connecting it with a lever, connecting-rod and treadle, that it may be operated by the foot of a person, while the hands are left free to handle the article to be punched.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to de scribe its'construction and operation.

I construct my punch or hollow cutter C, in the ordinary manner of making shoe punches, with the large end tapered, or with a screw thread cut around it. This is inserted in the thick end of lever A. The bedpiece L, is provided with two bifurcated posts I, I, to one of which I, is connected the thin end of lever A, by means of al pin; while the other one I serves to guide the lever A in its vertical motions, thus causing the cutter to strike in one place only, on the cutter-bed B, while said cutter-bed remains stationary. This cutter-bed is of copper, and is made like a common rivet with a broad, flat, circular head. The hole made in the bed-piece to receive the stem of cutter-bed B, is placed far enough back of the point where cutter C would strike, to allow said cutter to strike out of the center, and near the circumference of said cutterbed, as shown in Fig. 3. By this arrangement, when the cutter has worn into the cutter-bed too deep to do good work, the cutterbed can be turned in its place so as to present a new surface to the cutter.

D is a standard of wood, (all other parts of the machine are of metal) with a groove through `its whole length, (shown by dotted lines Fig. 1,) to receive connecting-rod E. Bed-piece L is screwed to the top of standard D. Connecting-rod E, is passed down through a hole in the bed-piece, in front of post I', and through the groove in standard D, to the treadle-H, through which it also passes and is kept in position by a nut on its lower end. A hook is turned on its upper end, by which it is connected with lever A, carrying cutter C. A cast iron bracket O is screwed to one side at the bottom of standard D, to which one end of treadle I-I is connected, thus forming the fulerum of the treadle lever,-shown in Fig. 2. The treadle passes through the lower part of standard D, at right angles with its greatest width, and is operated by the foot; thus making the machine complete in itself.

A single wood screw passing through the projecting part of bracket C, and into the floor, contines the machine down, while it may be fastened by any suitable means, to a bench, or other fixture, near its top.

The treadle H, being operated by the foot, communicates (through connecting-rod E) motion to lever A, and cutter C. A spring S, confined by one end to bed-piece L, acts on the under side of lever A, and thus throws cutter C up, after it has done its work.

X is an adjustable guide, attached to post I for guiding the article to be punched.

This machine is designed principally for punching holes in the uppers of boots and shoes for Stringing, but may be used for other purposes.

The advantages of this machine, over any yet introduced, are, simplicity of construction and consequent cheapness; it is operated with less power, and is less easily deranged, the power being applied in a more direct manner. The arrangement of the cut'- ter-bed is such that when the cutter wears into one place too deep, it (the cutter-bed) can be turned, until a new surface is presented to the action of the cutter; by which means, one cutter-bed is made serviceable for a much longer time without repairs, than others now in use. And finally, the

treadle is permanently attached to the standard, making the machine complete in itself, which is not the case with any other the bed-piece L, lever A, and holloW cutter machine of the kind, and is much more read- C, provided With a standard D, connectingily fastened to the floor for use, than any rod E and treadle H, as and for the purpose other. set forth and described. 15

I am aware that machines other than that 2. I do not claim an adjustable cutter-bed, herein described, have been made and used as such: but I claim the arrangement as set for similar purposes, and I do not claim any forth, of the circular adjustable cutter-bed, of them as my invention. Neither do I B in such a relative position to the cutter C, claim any of the separate parts herein as to accomplish the object herein specified. 20 described, in themselves, as my invention. GILBERT L. BAILEY.

I claiml. The arrangement and combination of Witnesses:

WILLIAM SEAGAR, E. K. BooTHBY. 

